Senior Technical Artist: Rigging

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. 

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry. 

Rockstar Toronto is looking for a passionate and talented Senior Technical Artist: Rigging to join the team to help develop and support our titles.

This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar’s unique game development studio in Oakville, ON. 

WHAT WE DO

• We design, create and maintain highly complex character rigs, secondary motion and animation systems that bring our characters to life.
• We constantly engage in Research and Development of new techniques for driving skeletons, blendshapes and custom deformers through comprehensive control rigs.
• Work alongside Character Artists and Animators providing support and addressing feedback to get the best visual results in game.
• Collaborate and communicate with other departments such as Tools, Machine Learning and Code (engine) teams to improve our authoring workflows and animation/graphics systems in runtime.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build, test and maintain rigs for a variety of dynamic art assets.
• Develop constraints, custom deformers, secondary motion and shader connections using our extensive proprietary runtime animation system.
• Create tools within 3ds Max/Maya to support and push forward workflows across Rigging and Character Art.
• Work with the team organizing, documenting and maintaining libraries for interacting with the rig from a tooling standpoint.
• Work with other Technical Artists improving workflows and tools used internally by the Rigging Team and other departments such as Character Art and Animation.
• Staying current with latest technologies/research ongoing in the field to help keep our dynamic art visuals at the cutting-edge regarding motion and deformation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A relevant degree or professional experience in the game industry as a Character Rigger, Technical Animator or similar/related position.
• 5+ years of production experience creating complex rigs for Games, Feature Films or VFX.
• A demo reel and online portfolio that demonstrates exceptional skills creating motion controls for animation, complex deformation and skinning of body and face of characters and creatures.

SKILLS

• Understanding of human body and facial anatomy as it relates to game assets and topology.
• Strong Python, Mel or Maxscript (candidate may be asked to complete a test) skills used within DCCs.
• Strong C# programming skills.
• 3D Math background.
• Experience using other game engines (e.g. Unreal/Unity or proprietary tech) with relation to Animation.
• Strong communication, self-management, and organizational skills.
• Effective time management skills to meet deadlines and milestones.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

• Knowledge of game engines (e.g. Unreal/Unity or proprietary tech).
• Experience creating Animation scripts/tools for Motionbuilder, Maya, 3dsMax is highly advantageous.
• Experience creating assets and pipelines using Houdini in production.
• Experience with C++ is highly advantageous.
• Experience using source control software (i.e. Perforce, Git) and working on a code base collaboratively.
• Professional experience working and developing in a multi-platform, multi-project environment.
• Professional experience working in a large team spread across multiple locations and time zones.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a resume and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect.  In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities (or on the basis of any other protected ground under human rights legislation) during the recruitment process, as well as to any Rockstar employees in order for them to perform the essential functions of their roles.  Rockstar will comply with its obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and will provide accommodations as long as such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship on Rockstar.  If you need more information about Rockstar’s accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.